Stock-feeder



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet '1.

0. H. TERRY. STOCK FEEDER.

No. 579,245. Patented Mar. 23, 1897,

(No Model.) Z'Sheets-Shet 2.

O.- H. TERRY.

STOCK FEEDER.

PatentedManZS. 1897,

m: uonmi, Finns cc. wm'o-uma. msmumou n c lJNTTn STATES ATnNT FFlCE.

CHARLES H. TERRY, 'OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

STOCK-FEEDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 579,245, dated March 23, 1897'. Application filed June 3, 1895. Serial No. 551,445. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

' Be it known that I, CHARLES H. TERRY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Stock-Feeders, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings. 7

My invention relates to certain improvements in apparatus by which grain or other feed is automatically delivered for consumption by animals.

The object of my invention is to provide means by which from one central point a number of automatic feed-delivering receptacles may be automatically caused to deliver their contents within the reach of the animals, by which a certain predetermined quantity of the feed may be delivered, by which the feed receiving anddelivering receptacle is withheld from that movement whereby its contents are discharged, and also by which any one or more of the feed-delivering receptacles may be released from the said central point of operation in order to discharge its contents.

My invention has certain other objects in view; and it consists in certain features to be described, and pointed out in my claims, reference being now had to the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 is a front elevation of the feed receiving and discharging mechanism. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, partly broken away to show the interior of the receiving and delivering receptacle. Fig. 3 is a view of the electrically or electromagnetically opererated devices which normally withhold the receiving and delivering receptacles and release the same, the full lines showing the position of the parts when the receiving and de livering receptacle is locked and the dotted lines indicating the position of the parts when said receptacle is released. Fig. 4 is a detail view showing the cams on the periphery of the receiving and delivering receptacle. Fig. 5 is a detail plan view of the locking-lever. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of one of the movable partitions. Fig. '7 is a diagrammatic view of the circuit arrangement from In the carrying out of my invention I provide a source of electric-current supply and acircuit emanating therefrom and leading to and connecting together a number of grain receiving and delivering devices, each of which is located conveniently within a stall or other inclosure for the animal to be fed. At a central point of convenient operation I provide some circuit-closer, such as a switch or push-button, which may be ,mauually operated in order that the grain receiving and delivering devices may be released and permitted to perform their function of automatically feeding the grain to the animal.

Included in series in the electrical circuit are a number of electromotive devices, one

for each of the grain receiving and delivering receptacles, the latter being conditioned to move upon a definite accumulation of the grain within the receiving and delivering receptacles, whereby a tendency on the part of the receptacles is established to move into a delivering or discharging position, which tendency is restrained by means of the electromotive devices. Instead of a man ually-operated circuit-closer some automatic circuitcloser may be supplied, the movement of which is initiated at a predetermined time by clock mechanism, for instance.

I will first proceed to a description of the receiving and delivering receptacle designated at 15 and consisting of a rotatablymounted drum 16, which is mounted upon the stud 17 and which is provided with a peripheral receiving and discharging orifice. Also rotatably mounted within this drum 16 is a movable partition 18, Figs. 1, 2, and 6, which is thereby adapted for adjusting in various different positions within the drum 16 and in conjunction with the stationary partition 19, providing grain-receiving compartments 20 for the reception of the grain, which compartments may be varied in size in order to receive and deliver diiferent quantities of grain. The hopper 21 has a delivery-spout 22, the opening in which coincides with the receiving and delivery opening of the drum 16, and thereby the compartment 20 is filled with the grain and establishes a tendency to rotate the drum 16 into a discharging position into the receiving-hopper 23, connected with the feed-box 24 by the deliveryspout 25, the lower end of which spout terminates in a position closely adjacent to the bottom 26 of the feed-box 24 and the side 27, so that the grain is delivered into the box 24 in a sufficient quantity only for the immediate consumption thereof by the animal and avoid ing that loss or waste incident to an unlimited feed of the grain into the feed-box.

Upon the face of the drum 16 I provide a number of indicating-marks properly desig nated by numbers indicating specific quan tities of grain to be fed, an index-finger 29 being mounted upon the same axis as that of the movable partition 18 and a set-screw 29, entering the recesses 30, serving to hold both the'indeX-finger and the movable partition 18 in a fixed position opposite that numeral designating a specific quantity of grain, the movable partition 18 when so positioned in c011- junetion with the solid partition 19 forming a compartment 20 of such a size as to hold that quantity of grain and thereby feed that quantity.

I will now proceed with a description of the electromotive devices by which the normallywithheld receiving and delivering receptacles are released, having reference to Figs. 3, 4, and 5.

Mounted within the boX or casing 31 is an.

armature 32, pivoted at 33 and carrying at one end the weight 34. Acting upon the other end of the armature 32 are the electromagnets 35. Pivoted at 36 is a lever 37, the upper notched end of which engages a similar notch on the lever 32. A locking-arm carried by the lever 37 and designated at 38 has an engaging lug 39 with a beveled face engaging the beveled face 40 on the cam 41, which cam is mounted upon the periphery of the drum 16. This locking-arm 38, the lever 37, and the armature-lever 32 serve to withhold and restrain the movement of the drum 16 containing the feed, the lug 39 engaging the beveled face 40. When the circuit is closed by the switch 42, Fig. 7, the current from the battery 43 traverses the lead 44 to and through the magnet 35, this lead 44 being connected with the binding-post 45, Fig. 3, and the latter with the magnets 35, the lead 46 also connecting the magnets 35 with the contact point 47 which contact-point is connected with the return-lead 48, passing through the bindingpost 49. The magnets 35 are thus energized and the arm ature-lever 32 attracted, thereby releasing the lever 37, and as the drum 16 is conditioned to rotate by the weight of the feed therein the beveled face 40, hearing against the beveled face of the lug 39, raises the locking-arm 38 and releases the drum 16, cansing the lever 37 to move in the direction of the arrow and permitting the drum to rotate into a discharging position, whereby the feed is delivered into the hopper 23, Figs. 1 and 2.

In order that the drum 16 may be again automatically locked and held in a receptive position for the feed, I provide a cam 51, Fig. 4, mounted upon the periphery of the drum 16 and adapted to engage the lug 52 of the resetting-arm 53, connected with the lever 37 the drum 16 in its rotative discharging movement causing the cam 51, inclined in a direction opposite to that of the cam 41, to engage against and lift the resetting-arm 53 and move the lever 37 in a direction opposite to that of the arrow. In order to effect an engagement between the end of the lever 37 and the armature-lever 32, it is necessary that the latter should be released by the magnet, and it is therefore necessary that the magnet should be discharged or cut out. In order to accomplish this result, I provide a shunt-circuit about the magnets 35, which shunt-circuit is normally open and adapted to be closed by the movement of the lever 37, brought about by the rotative discharging movement of the drum 16. Connected to the binding-post is a lead 54, also connected with the bindin g-post 56,with which latter the switch-lever 57 is connected. Secured and carried by the resettingarm 53 is a spring contact-maker 58, which, when the locking-arm 38 is raised and the resetting-arm 53 is lowered by the movement of the drum 16, forces the switchlever 57 against the contact 47, and as the return-lead 48 is connected with this contactpoint 47 the course of the current is now through the shunt-circuit, owing to the high resistance of the magnets relative to the resistance of the shunt, the current passing through the contact-point 47, switch-lever 57, and the shunt-circuit, consisting of the leads 54 and 48. By this means the magnets 35 are cut out, the armature-lever 32 released, and the circuit established to the next set of receiving and delivering devices. When the armature-lever 32 is released, the weight 34 brings it into engagement with the end of the lever 37, thus locking the drum 16 in its receptive position.

It is desirable that means be provided by which at a central point any one or more of the receiving and delivering devices may be cut out of the circuit, and thus provide means by which these devices so cut out are still withheld from discharging movement and the others permitted to discharge and thereby prevent the feeding of one or more of the animals as desired. In Fig. 7 I have shown a switchboard 60 in circuit with the leads 44 and 48, which leads terminate at contactpoints on the switchboard 60 instead of being connected as shown in Fig. 3. Each one of the receiving and delivering devices (designated by the numerals 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5) are connected from the switchboard 60 by sepa rate circuits 61, the leads of which terminate at contact-points on the switchboard 60, ex-

cept that one of the leads of the receiving and delivering devices (designated as No. 1) returns to the battery 43, the other end of the leads of the circuit 61 being connected up in the manner as shown in Fig. 3, each one of the circuits 61 being cut in or out on the switchboard by means of the switch-lever 62, thus providing means by which the operator at the switchboard 60 may render any one or more of the receiving and delivering devices inactive.

In Fig. 7 I have shown at A a clock mechanism which may be employed to close the circuit.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination in a feeding device of a plurality of feed receiving and delivering devices normally held in a receptive position and conditioned to move into a discharging position, a source of current-supply, a circuit emanating therefrom and connecting the receiving and delivering devices, an electromotive device for each receiving and delivering device normally engaged therewith to withhold the same from movement into a dis charging position and included in the circuit, which electromotive device is energized by the current from the source of supply to release the receiving and delivering devices whereby the latter move into a discharging position together with mechanism for reestablishing the engaging position of those devices withholding the receiving and discharging devices.

2. The combination in a feeding device of a plurality of-rotatable feed receiving and delivering devices normally held in a receptive position and conditioned to move into a discharging position, a source of current-supply, a circuit emanating therefrom and connecting the receiving and delivering devices, an electromotive device for each receiving and delivering device normally engaged therewith to withhold the same from movement into a discharging position and included in the circuit, which electromotive device is energized by the current from the source of supply to release the receiving and delivering devices whereby the latter move into a discharging position togetherwith mechanism for reestablishing the engaging position of those devices withholdin g the receiving and discharging devices.

3. The combination in a feeding device of a plurality of feed receiving and delivering devices normally held in a receptive position and conditioned to move into a discharging position, a source of current-supply, a circuit emanating therefrom and connecting the receiving and delivering devices, an electromotive device for each receiving and delivering device normally engaged therewith to Withhold the same from movement into a discharging position and included in the circuit, which electromotive device is energized by 4. The combination in a feeding device of aplurality of rotatably-mounted members for receiving and discharging the feed which members are normally held in a receptive position and conditioned to move into a discharging position under the weight of the grain or feed,locking mechanism engaging said receiving and discharging members and withholding the same from movement, a source of current supply, electromagnets included in circuit with said source and when energized thereby adapted to release the locking devices and permit the receiving and delivering member to move into a discharging position and means for again engaging the locking mechanism when the feed has been discharged.

5. The combination in a feeding device of a rotatable feed receiving and discharging member, which member is conditioned to rotate into a discharging position under the Weight of the feed therein, a locking mechanism engaging the receiving and discharging member and normally withholding the same from movement, a source of currentsupply, an electromagnet in circuit with said source of supply, an armature normally engaging the locking device and releasing the same when attracted by the electromagnet to permit a rotation of the receiving and discharging member into its discharging position and a mechanism operated by the receiving and discharging member in its movement of rotation whereby the locking mechanism is reengaged.

6. The combination in a feeding device of a rotatably-mounted feed receiving and discharging member, conditioned to move into a discharging position under the weight of the feed, locking mechanism consisting of a pivoted locking-lever engaging and holding the receiving and discharging member in a receptive position, electromagnets included in circuit with the source of current-supply, a pivoted armature engaging the pivoted locking-lever and holding the same in a locking position said magnets when energized attracting the armature and releasing the locking mechanism from its locking position permits the receiving and discharging member to rotate into a discharging position together with mechanism for reestablishing the engaging position of those devices withholding the receiving and discharging devices.

7. The combination in a feeding device of a rotatably-mounted feed receiving and discharging member, conditioned to move into a discharging position under the weight of the IIO ing position and means for reistablishing the engagement of the lookin g mechanism in said rotation of the receiving and discharging member.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

CHARLES II. TERRY.

Witnesses:

C. C. BULKLEY, L. W. BULKLEY. 

